US embassy cable - 05DUSHANBE1944

C O N F I D E N T I A L  DUSHANBE 001944 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  12/5/2015 
TAGS: MCAP, TI 
SUBJECT: IIR 6 947 0013 06/AIDS, MEDICAL PERSONAL CARE, LEADERS DO 
NOT (U) 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Jonathan Edwards, DATT, USDAO Dushanbe, DIA. 
REASON: 1.4 (a) 
 
CONFIDENTIAL 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SERIAL:  (U) IIR 6 947 0013 06. 
 
COUNTRIES:  (U) TAJIKISTAN (TI) 
 
IPSP:  (U) IFC1510, IFC1590, IFC2500, IFC1913, IFC2550, IFC2210. 
 
 
SUBJECT: IIR 6 947 0013 06/AIDS, MEDICAL PERSONAL CARE, LEADERS 
DO NOT (U) 
 
WARNING:  (U) THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY 
EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE.  REPORT CLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL NO 
FOREIGN 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
                DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
DOI:  (U) 20051201 
 
REQS: (U) GOSG181700104, GOSG181600403, DHCD111049, DHCD111054, 
DHCD111044, DHCD045061, 
 
SOURCE:  (C) //MEMBER USDAO DUSHANBE//MEMBER HAS AN ESTABLISHED 
RELATIONSHIP WITH TAJIK MILITARY MEDICAL LEADERS. CONTEXT 
STATEMENT-MILITARY MEDICAL LEADERS TEND TO BE MORE FRANK AND 
OPEN REGARDING ISSUES THAT IMPACT THEIR WORK.  HOWEVER, MANY 
MILITARY MEDICAL LEADERS ARE ISOLATED FROM THE DECISION PROCESS 
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE. 
 
SUMMARY:  (C) MILITARY MEDICAL PERSONNEL IN THE MINISTRY OF 
DEFENSE ARE DEVELOPING AN AGGRESSIVE PROGRAM TO CONFRONT THE 
SPREAD OF AIDS.  HOWEVER, THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE LEADERSHIP 
APPEARS UNINTERESTED, LEAVING MOST EFFORTS TO UNITED STATES 
ASSISTANCE. 
 
TEXT: 1.  (U) ON 1 DECEMBER, WORLD AIDS DAY, THE TAJIK MINISTRY 
OF DEFENSE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT HOSTED AN AIDS 
INFORMATIONAL/ENTERTAINMENT EVENT AT THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE 
HEADQUARTERS.  RO AND THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY DEPUTY CHIEF OF 
MISSION ATTENDED AND SPOKE DURING THE EVENT.  GENERAL MAJOR 
((GRUDINA)), ONE OF THE DEPUTY MINISTERS OF DEFENSE, A NUMBER OF 
SENIOR TAJIK MILITARY MEDICAL OFFICERS WERE ALSO IN ATTENDANCE 
AND APPROXIMATELY 40 JUNIOR OFFICERS AND CIVILIANS FROM THE 
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT AND FOREIGN RELATIONS DEPARTMENT WERE ALSO IN 
ATTENDANCE. 
 
2.  (C) MG GRUDINA OPENED THE EVENT WITH A SHORT FIVE- MINUTE 
SPEECH THAT RECOGNIZED AIDS IS AN ISSUE OF CONCERN WITHIN THE 
MINISTRY OF DEFENSE.  HE NOTED THAT HE WAS UNSURE OF THE LEVEL 
OF THE THREAT AND POINTED OUT THAT TAJIKISTAN HAS LITTLE 
EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH SUCH ISSUES.  HE ACKNOWLEDGED THE 
DISEASE IS SPREADING AND TAJIKISTAN NEEDS TO ENCOURAGE 
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES.  MG GRUDINA THEN NOTED HE HAD AN 
IMPORTANT MEETING WITH THE MINISTER AND NEEDED TO DEPART 
QUICKLY.  [FIELD COMMENT: RO HAS HEARD MG GRUDINA SPECIFICALLY 
STATE TO AN AMERICAN OFFICER THAT THE UNITED STATES PUTS TOO 
MUCH EMPHASIS ON ITS AIDS PROGRAM WITH TAJIKISTAN.  HE STATED 
THAT AIDS IS NOT AS SERIOUS AS THE U.S. PORTRAYS AND THE MONEY 
WOULD BE BETTER SPENT ON OTHER ASSISTANCE.  MG GRUDINA WAS 
CLEARLY UNCOMFORTABLE AT THE AIDS FORUM.] 
 
3.  (U) FOLLOWING A SPEECH FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPUTY CHIEF 
OF MISSION, COLONEL M.K. ((KIEMOVA)), DIRECTOR OF THE MOD 
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT SPOKE.  AFTER STATING THE GLOBAL AIDS 
SITUATION, COLONEL KIEMOVA NOTED THAT 500 TAJIKS ARE INFECTED 
 
 
TODAY.  TAJIKISTAN NEEDS TO TAKE STRONGER MEASURES TO STEM THE 
SPREAD, HE SAID.  HE EMPHASIZED THAT SOCIAL-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS 
IN TAJIKISTAN ARE HELPING TO INCREASE THE SPREAD OF AIDS.  HE 
SAID THE USE OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS IS THE PRIMARY CONDUIT BY 
WHICH AIDS IS SPREAD.  THE GOVERNMENT OF TAJIKISTAN HAS DIRECTED 
THROUGH SOCIAL LAWS THAT THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE CONDUCT 
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES AGAINST THE SPREAD OF AIDS.  HE POINTED 
OUT THAT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THE MOD HAS INCREASED ITS 
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES WITH THE HELP OF DONOR NATIONS, ESPECIALLY 
THE UNITED STATES.  HE ADDED THAT THE CENTRAL MILITARY HOSPITAL 
AND THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY ARE WORKING HARD TO FURTHER EXPAND 
THE PROGRAM.  THE RESULTS OF THIS COOPERATION HAS BEEN THE 
TRAINING OF DOCTORS, LAB TECHNICIANS AND NURSES IN PREVENTATIVE, 
TESTING AND CARE.  THE HOSPITAL IS WORKING HARD TO TEST MORE 
SOLDIERS AND IDENTIFY THOSE NOT ALREADY TESTED.  THE HOSPITAL 
AND MEDICAL DEPARTMENT ARE LEADING THE MOD'S EFFORTS, AND THEIR 
EFFORTS CONTINUE TO EXPAND. 
 
4.  (U) COL ((USMANOVA)), DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL TAJIK MILITARY 
HOSPITAL PROVIDED A BRIEFING ON THE MOD'S SPECIFIC PROGRAMS. 
THE BRIEFING STARTED NOTING THAT HIV IS SPREADING IN TAJIKISTAN 
AND IT IS A PROBLEM THE MOD MUST ADDRESS AND IS DOING SO.  THE 
MOD IS CREATING AN ELEMENT WITHIN THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT 
DEDICATED TO HIV EDUCATION AND TRAINING.  THE MOD IS WORKING TO 
CREATE LABARATORIES AT EACH MAJOR TRAINING BASE.  THE MOD IS 
PARTICIPATING IN THE TAJIK GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGIC THREE-YEAR 
PLAN.  THE FACT THAT MOST MILITARY ACTIVITY AND MOBILIZATIONS 
INVOLVE YOUNG SOLDIERS, HIV IS A SPECIAL CONCERN OF THE MOD. 
THE MOD'S EDUCATION PROGRAM ATTEMPTS TO INFLUENCE SOLDIERS TO 
UNDERSTAND HIV, ITS CAUSES AND AVOID DISCRIMINATING 
AGAINST/HARASSING THOSE WITH HIV.  IN CLOSING, THE BRIEFING 
HIGHLIGHTED THAT SOLDIERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ARE DEPLOYED INTO 
AREAS WHERE THE RISK OF HIV IS VERY HIGH.  COL USMANOVA ADDED 
THAT THE TAJIK MILITARY MUST BE BETTER EDUCATED AND BETTER 
PREPARED, BUT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE. 
 
4.  (C) FOLLOWING THE DIRECTOR'S SPEECH THE AUDIENCE ENJOYED A 
FEW ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS SPONSORED BY LOCAL STUDENT GROUPS AND 
NGOS.  AFTER THE EVENTS A SELECT NUMBER OF ATTENDEES ENJOYED THE 
TYPICAL LARGE TAJIK LUNCH.  DURING THE LUNCH IN RESPONSE TO A 
FEW QUESTIONS FROM RO, COLONEL KIEMOVA NOTED THAT THE MOD STILL 
NEEDS MORE FUNDS TO SPREAD THE INFORMATION OUT TO THE FIELD.  HE 
THANKED RO A NUMBER OF TIMES FOR THE UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAMS, AND NOTED HOW LITTLE WOULD BE DONE IN THE MOD WITHOUT 
THIS ASSISTANCE.  HE SAID THAT WHILE IT IS HARD TO GET THE MOD 
TO TAKE THE SPREAD OF AIDS SERIOUSLY, HE FELT PROGRESS WAS BEING 
MADE.  AFTER RO'S COMMENT, HE HOPED TO TAKE SOME OF THE 
ENTERTAINMENT ACTS ON THE ROAD TO SUPPORT THEIR AWARENESS 
PROGRAM, BUT NOTED AGAIN THAT THE MOD NEEDS MORE FUNDS TO DO 
THIS RIGHT. 
 
COMMENTS: 1. (C) FIELD COMMENT:  RO WAS SURPRISED AT THE QUALITY 
AND EFFORT DISPLAYED DURING THIS MOD-SPONSORED EVENT.  RO 
UNDERSTANDING OF MOD AIDS PREVENTION PRIOR TO THIS EVENT WAS 
LIMITED TO A FEW DISCUSSIONS WITH SENIOR LEADERS IN THE MOD WHO 
DO NOT RECOGNIZE AIDS AS A PROBLEM.  THE MOD MEDICAL DEPARTMENT 
AND THE HOSPITAL ARE CLEARLY ENGAGED IN TRYING TO EXPAND THE 
MINISTRY'S AIDS AWARENESS AND TESTING PROGRAMS.  HOWEVER, DURING 
THE EVENT RO SAW THE MAJORITY OF TAJIKS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE 
SUBJECT MATTER DISCUSSED.  ONE SKIT INCLUDED SIMULATING PUTTING 
A CONDOM ON, TO WHICH THE MAJORITY PRESENT FIDGETED AND GIGGLED. 
 WHILE MOST TAJIKS ARE CONSIDERED SECULAR MUSLIMS, THE SUBJECT 
OF AIDS PREVENTION IS DIFFICULT TO DISCUSS.  IN ADDITION, 
PROBABLY 90 PERCENT OF THOSE IN ATTENDANCE WERE FROM THE MEDICAL 
DEPARTMENT OR CENTRAL MILITARY HOSPITAL.  THE OTHERS IN 
ATTENDANCE WERE MOSTLY FROM THE FOREIGN RELATIONS DEPARTMENT. 
THIS EVENT ON WORLD AIDS AWARENESS DAY IN THE MOD HEADQUARTERS 
LACKED THE PRESENCE OF MOD LEADERSHIP AND NON-MEDICAL SOLDIERS 
AND LEADERS.  GIVEN NEARLY THE ENTIRE EVENT WAS FUNDED BY U.S. 
ASSISTANCE, IT APPEARS THE AIDS PROGRAM IN THE MOD HAS VERY 
LIMITED EXPOSURE AT THIS TIME.  THE DIRECTOR'S COMMENT THAT 
 
 
APPROXIMATELY 500 TAJIKS ARE INFECTED WITH HIV IS WELL BELOW 
MOST INTERNATIONAL FIGURES. 
 
2.  (U)  HEADQUARTERS COMMENT.  REQUEST ORIGINATOR OF CITED 
REQUIREMENTS AND INTERESTED CONSUMERS PUBLISH AN EVALUATION OF 
THIS IIR IAW CHAPTER 13, DIAM 58-12, OR SUBMIT EVALUATION INPUT 
USING THE FORM LOCATED ON THE DHO- 2 WEB PAGE ON SIPRNET 
(HTTP://DO.DIA.SMIL.MIL/DHO2/EVALFORM/EVAL.HT ML) OR JWICS 
(HTTP://DH.DIA.IC.GOV/DHO2/EVALFORM/EVALFORM. HTML) DHO-2 WILL 
PUBLISH THE INPUT AS AN IIR EVALUATION. 
 
3.  (U) SOURCE IS AVAILABLE FOR FURTHER CONTACT. 
 
4.  (U) DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS IIR TO DIA/DHO-2 AT 
STU III (202) 231-7299, OR DSN 428-7299. 
 
COLL: (U) AB. 
INSTR:  (U) U.S.  NO. 
PREP:  (U) 6-04708. 
ENCL: (U) NONE. 
ACQ:  (U)  GARMISCH, GERMANY (20051201) 
DISSEM:  (U)  FIELD:  EMBASSY AT DUSHANBE. 
WARNING:  (U) REPORT CLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL 
DRVD FM: DHS HUMINT SCG OCT 04 
DECL ON:  20151201 
HOAGLAND 
 
 
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